COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Recently, interest in artificial intelligence (AI) has rebounded, while the computational theory of mind has developed the thesis that all minds are machines. We will explore the history, philosophy, and psychology of mental machines by studying computational/cognitive psychology and the bi-directional influences of society and computing. We will examine traditional symbolic AI, deep learning by artificial neural networks, statistical learning techniques, and robotics. Finally, we will ponder the possibility that creating machines with common sense might require insights from developmental psychology. Ultimately, we will contemplate how research on AI illuminates human cognition, and vice versa.
REQUIRED BOOKS:
- Mitchell, Melanie. (2019). Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux.
- Braitenberg, Valentino. (1984). Vehicles: Experiments in Synthetic Psychology. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
- Schneider, Susan. (2019). Artificial You: AI and the Future of Your Mind. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
OTHER READINGS:
All other readings are available on the course website (Sakai).
ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS:
Please note that we will make every reasonable effort to accommodate students with disabilities. For Pitzer students, to request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact Pitzer's Academic Support Services (PASS) in the Office of Student Affairs to inquire about accommodations and support services (Academic Support Services). It would be best for any interested students to contact PASS early in the semester so that a collaborative plan can be developed for the academic year. PASS will work with students to identify reasonable and appropriate accommodations. If you attend another one of the Claremont Colleges, please contact your home college’s disability officer; you can get more information about that by contacting the Claremont Colleges Student Disability Resource Center here: sdrc@cuc.claremont.edu.
WRITING CENTER:
The Pitzer Writing Center is one of Pitzer’s most popular academic resources, holding more than 1,600 50-minute consultations last year. This fall, the center will offer comprehensive virtual support to students enrolled in Pitzer classes. This includes one-on-one video conferences with peer Fellows trained to work with writers on assignments across the disciplines and at any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming ideas to polishing a final draft. The Writing Center will also continue to host a range of online workshops and events, including regular “write-ins” that build community and foster resilience around the writing process. Specialized consultations are available for senior thesis, fellowship, and multilingual writers. In addition, a research librarian offers weekly consultations on all aspects of the research process. For more information or to book an appointment, visit Pitzer Writing Center.
All Pitzer students may use the Writing Center for any writing need. Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pomona, and Scripps students are welcome to book appointments for courses taken at Pitzer.